System for direct acquisition of received signals

Signal processing architectures for direct acquisition of spread spectrum signals using long codes. Techniques are described for achieving a high of parallelism, employing code matched filter banks and other hardware sharing. In one embodiment, upper and lower sidebands are treated as two independent signals with identical spreading codes. Cross-correlators, in preferred embodiments, are comprised of one or more banks of CMFs for computing parallel short-time correlations (STCs) of received signal samples and replica code sequence samples, and a means for calculating the cross-correlation values utilizing discrete-time Fourier analysis of the computed STCs. One or more intermediate quantizers may optionally be disposed between the bank of code matched filters and the cross-correlation calculation means for reducing word-sizes of the STCs prior to Fourier analysis. The techniques described may be used with BOC modulated signals or with any signal having at least two distinct sidebands.

Method and system for finding similar records in mixed free-text and structured data

A technique for data mining where the available data contains both structured as well as unstructured (free-text) data. The invention combines together the information available from different types of data to provide a single similarity score indicating the degree of similarity between records. A data evaluation application selects two records from a database and compares corresponding fields from the two records. The application determines whether to apply a nominal matching process, an ordinal matching process, or a vector-space matching process depending on the type of data in each pair of corresponding fields. The application sums the matching scores for all the fields in the records to compute the similarity score.

Methods and systems for mobile navigational applications using global navigation satellite systems

The invention relates to providing navigation guidance for mobile users, using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) for applications where the user position needs to be determined in real time while meeting the navigation requirements, especially integrity requirement, for the given application. The invention assists in providing guidance with a high availability of integrity function by trading accuracy for integrity for two different types of navigation applications. A first type of application requires a capability of detecting an occurrence of multiple satellite signal faults; the first embodiment of the invention provides this capability with a high availability of integrity, using two or more independent GNSSs. A second type of application requires a capability of detecting an occurrence of a single satellite signal fault; the second embodiment of the invention provides this capability with a high availability of integrity, using any one or a combination of GNSSs. The detecting and deriving of both methods are (i) in position domain and (ii) determinative of mobile user safety.

System for secure computing using defense-in-depth architecture

A secure computing system is provided which utilizes a unique combination of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Virtual Private Networking (VPN), and server-based computing on thin client devices. The combination of technology and components provide secure computing through Defense-in-Depth using commercial off-the-shelf components.

Techniques for building-scale electrostatic tomography

Techniques for imaging a search region to detect a dielectric target include placing multiple electrodes outside the search region. At least two electrodes are activated independently of each other. Emitter circuits are connected to corresponding emitter electrodes. Each emitter circuit is configured for using its emitter electrode to produce an electric field with wavelength longer than about one hundred meters. Receiver circuits are connected to corresponding receiver electrodes. Each receiver circuit is configured for using its receiver electrode to measure a property of an electric field produced, at least in part, by an emitter electrode. A processor determines a property of a dielectric target inside the search region based on measurements from the receiver circuits using a subset of the emitter circuits. Among other uses, these techniques allow humans to be detected inside building-size regions, even when hidden by visually opaque blocking material of small dielectric constant.

Distributed electrical field sensors

A distributed sensing, tracking and imaging network where each constituent element or node consists of (i) sensing means, specifically one or more electrodes that emit a controllable, alternating current ("AC") electric field ("E-field"), together with one or more electrodes configured to detect and measure displacement current or voltage induced on conductors in proximity to the sensor, (ii) wireless communication means linking multiple sensors with each other and with a central processor as part of an extensible, distributed array, (iii) processing means, both "on-sensor" and at a centralized processing location, including (a) optimized communication protocols, (b) algorithms to estimate the size/shape/orientation of electrically isolated and/or connected conductors by exploiting multi-static measurements to infer the surface charge distribution induced on the conductor by the active AC electric field (and hence the three dimensional characteristics of object), (c) algorithms for the adaptive control and management of a distributed electric field tomography system, including ability to control emission waveform, frequency, power and other characteristics, task other nodes for multi-static operation that optimizes performance in different operating modes, and adaptively change operating modes, (d) algorithms to enable the relative geo-location, calibration and scaling of a network of cooperative E-field sensors, and (e) algorithms to exploit portable netted E-field sensor mobility, AC field frequency agility and various emission coding schemes to create angular diversity for image formation, disambiguate the reconstructed surface characteristics of conductors of interest, and to enable multi-static operation and extend useful operating range and (iv) visualization means to solve the inverse problem and provide a real time reconstructed two dimensional representation.

Dual-band microstrip ringed patch antenna

This invention is about a novel microstrip patch antenna which is capable of operating in two different frequency bands. The antenna provides a broad beam serving a hemispherical coverage. The antenna consists of 3 layers: metal-dielectric-metal (ground-substrate-patch). The dielectric layer is a few hundred mils thick sitting on top of a thin metallic square ground plane. The patch can be of a circular or a square shape. A thin parasitic ring surrounds the patch and plays an important role of generating the second frequency band. There is no direct metal contact between the ring and the patch itself. The patch can be fed by two orthogonal probes to generate circular polarization (CP) or a single probe to generate linear polarization (LP). Although circular and square patches are demonstrated here, the shape of the patch is not limited to these two particular shapes. This is also the case of the shape of the ground plane which can take other shapes than square. The patch can work as a stand alone radiator or as an element of a multi-element array. The performance of the ringed patches can be described by 1) the return loss and 2) the radiation pattern. The circular patch operates at 1.575 GHz and 1.227 GHz. The square patch operates at 1.679 GHz and 1.365 GHz. The operating frequency bands are controlled by the geometry of the ringed patch. Other frequency bands may be obtained by optimizing the patch dimensions. A 3.274 dB gain is achieved at 1.575 GHz and a 1.897 dB gain is achieved at 1.227 GHz. A 4.28 dB gain is achieved at 1.679 GHz and a 1.944 dB gain is achieved at 1.365 GHz. Both right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) and left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) were recorded. The cross-polarization (LHCP) component is at least 10 dB smaller than the co-polarized component (RHCP) at the boresight direction.

Personalized broadcast news navigator (P-BNN)

Automated personalization of multimedia presentations. We have created the abilty using implicit and explicit information from the user to automatically select the content and form of video presentation. This is embodied in the computational implementation, Personalized Broadcast News Nagivator. The essence of the invention is to exploit the fine-grained segmentation of broadcast video performed by BNN, instrumentation of user interactions, and the creation of a user model to then guide the content and form of the presentation of the news to the users interest and preferences. Since BNN automatically decomposes video into audio, video, and text streams (including summaries and extracts such as people, organizations, and locations), these can be recomposed in accordance with user preferences into a new artifact. The system both allows the user to explicitly state their preferences in the form of a media profile (e.g., audio, video, summaries, types of named entities) as well as a content profile (e.g. keywords or named entity specifications of the kinds of material they prefer.). It also monitors their interaction so that if they always choose a particular topic or a specific broadcast channel source, or data, or media type (e.g., summaries or images or both) the system will learn this from captured interaction logs. The system can then use this to present tailored content and media to the user.

Continuous flow method for nanotube separation

Flow-based bulk physico-chemical separation reaction for carbon nanotube molecules according to their helical twist. This also is a method for the separation of carbon nanotube according to their electrical conductances, since this electrical property depends upon the nanotube's helical angle and diameter.